| Description | It has been an eventful fortnight for William, including a narrow escape of his life. He was going to Berhapore by water on 10 November, intending to capture twelve men called 'Lattee walas', who were trying to keep possession of an alluvial tract of land. William took a Darogah, eight policemen and two personal chapressies, not expecting any resistance, being certain of finding them asleep. They surprised a first hut, securing four men and their weapons. In a second hut they arrested the chief and three other men, who struggled, and their cries were answered from a village. William determined to make a stand, asking for passage as a Magistrate, confronted by eight or so men with swords and clubs. William did not have his pistols, but they charged. William was met by a man with two swords, striking him with a stick, which had little effect. The man cut William's hat half down to the head. He fell back and finding no companions around him, jumped over a ditch but fell again, attempting to fight off his attackers with his legs, his wrists and fingers being senseless. They left him and William called for his men, but was only joined by the Darogah, the rest having deserted. They went for the boats, with William bloodsoaked at the head and left leg. He gave instructions to the Darogah, sending the four prisoners back with him and he continued his journey to the station. He met [William] Waterfield] who had a letter stating that William had been 'plucked' again in his examination. This was utterly unexpected, because the local committee, consisting of Grote and Bayley, had given him high marks. William was rejected in revenue, where Grote, the best revenue officer in Bengal, had given him 120 marks out of 160. The passing mark was 95 and the central committee cut him down to 91. William ruminates on these events and describes his injuries from a variety of sword cuts, the pith in his helmet having saved him from the worst. He has sixteen bruises which are constantly getting in his way, and he has been kept all day giving a deposition. His last predicament is that Mr Hodgson Pratt, the Inspector of Public Instruction has asked if William would accept his position if offered. He was authorised by Mr Young, the Director of Public Instruction, to offer William the place as the person most qualified in energy and ability. William did not want to retire from the Magistracy under the circumstances and thought that others might have better claims. But Pratt would take no excuse and obtained William's consent to recommend him to Gordon Young. William later discovered that the Director had authorised Pratt to offer it to either Herschel or Waterfield and decided instantly that he was the wrong man of the two to be selected. He released Pratt from his promise and thinks that Pratt was prejudiced against Waterfield, believing him to be sedentary. Pratt will recommend them both, and William thinks that Waterfield will be successful, but William will not retire from the competition. |